Next Generation Tour #10

The BlueGill, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Michigan has always been a state that supports disc golf. From hosting many World Championships to producing multiple Open World Champions. It has been almost a decade since I had visited Grand Rapids. The city has grown along with the local disc golf scene. When I was here last you could count the disc golf courses on one hand. Now there are courses all over the area, even in most of the small towns surrounding Grand Rapids. The crown Jewel of the area is the BlueGill course. A private 24 hole course designed, maintained , and owned by Joe Gill, a long time Michigan disc golfer. He and his wife are some of the first administrators of the Grand Rapids Disc golf Clubs.

The course is immaculate a 24 hole par 78, the BlueGill offers everything a disc golf course can provide. Water shots,elevation, field holes, wooded holes, short accurate holes, long bomber holes. If you are invited to play there you will use your entire bag. The course is private, so don’t just show up, you will need to Contact Joe and get permission. I have traveled all over the planet to play disc golf, and I come home just 20 minutes from my high school, to find one of the nicest courses you can play.

The competition was full with 95 competitors. The weather was a perfect 80 degrees, and you could feel the excitement of everyone anticipation of getting to play on this private course.

The first round Matt Jackson shot a -10 (68) and had a clear lead on the advanced Men’s field, with 10 players within 5 throws. But as Joe said “this course you can shoot a 68 one round and a 78 the next” . This is just what happened , as Jackson struggled to break par, up and comer Brandon Tetloff put the pressure on an carded a -8 (70) and captured the advanced men’s title.

In all other divisions there was clear leaders who held commanding leads from wire to wire. With intermediate and Rec men winning by nine strokes respectively.